6 Eating Habits You Should Develop in Recovery

6 Eating Habits You Should Develop in Recovery

To support recovery, the body has to be healed with as much attention as the mind. Recovery can best be supported through a healthy and nutritious set of eating habits.

Eat breakfast every day: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, according to science. What you eat in the morning can dictate the rest of your day by kick starting your brain power and your metabolism. The entire day’s energy and focus will be decided by breakfast. Following some of the rules below and putting them into breakfast greatly benefits mental health. Waking up, the brain is hungry as is the body. Essential nutrients and energy the brain needs to function efficiently only comes from food.

Stay thoroughly hydrated: The brain and the body rely on water. Without water, the brain and the body cannot go on. Water is critical to your survival. Many times, when you are hungry, you are truly thirsty. Energy, focus, retaining information, mood, and decision making can all be affected by how much water you consume. Ideally, it is recommended to drink eight glasses of water today at about eight ounces each. Some suggest drinking half of your body weight in water to be thoroughly hydrated.

Eat gut-friendly food: Within the stomach, there is bacteria. Bacteria in the stomach helps the stomach digest the food that has entered it. Food produces good bacteria or “bad bacteria” which then has a widespread effect on the rest of the body. Research has found that good bacteria influences a good mood and bad bacteria influences a bad mood. Eating food the gut likes to digest can contribute to a better mental health. Probiotic foods or fermented foods are excellent sources for creating good bacteria.

Make meals well-rounded: Having all of the healthy food groups in one meal makes for a well-rounded meal. Balanced meals help the stomach digest and give the body all of the nutrients it needs. Fruit, vegetable, protein, carbohydrate, and fat should be included. Dairy and sugar should be limited.

Eliminate processed foods: Processed foods have been relied upon for many years as people have forgotten how to eat on a whole-food based diet. Added sugars, preservatives, additives, and other unhealthy parts of processed foods are not meant for the body.

Incorporate Omegas: Omega-3 fatty acids are nutrients the brain needs to operate and can only get from foods which contain Omega-3 fatty acids. Eating foods like avocado, salmon, and other foods give the brain those omega-3 fatty acids it needs.